In an unusual step, Yokota specified Italian Columbus Cromor OR tubing for this model. Its thin walls require careful torch work, so vice-president John Har- rington had to find a smaller builder in the Orient with the requisite skill. It Briciflestcoxie seems to have worked because the welds on our test bike looked flawless . Howev- er, despite the special tubing, the bike HBlllllllllllllllll2 weighs 31 .3 pounds, in part due to the 3.7-pound fork. A Rock Shox Mag 20 would save about X pounds. An Inexpensive, Unexpected, Overall, the Yosemite Pro shows that you don't have to tolerate motorcycle Race-Ready Roadster prices to get a suspension bike. More- over, it represents the leading edge of a BY JOHN KUKODA new genre of affordable sprung models . Before long, I predict we'll see shocks on hybrids, and perhaps even (cross NOT EVERY BICYCLE QUALIFIES FOR THE Of course, if you're interested in long- yourself) road bikes. cliche,"most energy efficient mode of distance events or USCF racing, nothing A revolutionary-or shall we say transportation ever devised." Among all but a road bike will do . Although most shocking-concept. E the varieties, it's the road bike (a.k .a. riders understand this, they're apt to have "road racer") that's superior at carrying a the common misconception that "real" YOKOTA YOSEMITE PRO rider fast and far across all types of racing machines have 4-figure prices, asphalt . fragile finger-width tires, and the unpre- Distributed by: Yokota Cycle USA If you pound pavement on a hybrid or dictable behavior of a squirrel on a rush- 2016 Martin Ave. mountain bike, you're squandering pre- hour freeway. Santa Clara, CA 95050 Country of Origin : Taiwan cious energy to overcome extra weight Wrong, wrong, and wrong. The proof Suggested Retail Price: $899 ; $999 with and rolling resistance. Ride either on a is provided by Bridgestone's versatile RB- Rock Shox Mag 20 fork Sunday club outing and you'll learn first- 2, a race-ready $585 roadster that leaves Sizes Available: 15, 18, 20 (tested), 22 in . hand that OTB stands for something hybrids and mountain bikes in the dust. (center-to-top) besides "off-track betting" (off the back). The RB-2 boasts Japanese construc- Weight: 31.3 lbs. Even if you love off-road cycling and tion, which is almost unheard of these Frame : Columbus Cromor OR double-butted are blessed with endless singletrack, days . chrome-moly steel with double-taper stays ; Dirt (Most bikes in its price range are Research AfterShock air/spring suspension fork there'll be days when your legs are will- built by Taiwanese factory workers .) Wheelbase 42 .5 in. ; 108 cm ing but your arms and butt feel like ham- Bridgestone's Japan-based facility makes Seat tube 20 in . ; 50 .8 cm mered dogmeat . Riding a road bike is the it possible, so use the money you save to Top tube 22 .8 in . ; 57 .9 cm perfect alternative because a few hours of buy a good set of lightweight race wheels, Head angle 72 degrees sustained spinning on smooth asphalt and you'll still have enough left for a few Seat angle 73 .5 degrees builds the endurance you need to Chainstays 16 .7 in . ; 42 .4 cm enjoy seasons of entry fees . The stock Araya Bottom bracket height 12 .2 in . ; 30 .9 cm epic days on the trail. Mountain bike 20A rims, shod with wide, smooth-rolling Fork rake 1 .8 in. ; 4 .57 cm champions such as Ned Overend, Ruthie 700x28C Ritchey Force semi-slicks, are Trail 2 .33 in. ; 5 .91 cm Matthes, and John Tomac (plus MOUN- perfect for most uses this side of the dis- Wheels : TAIN BIKE's dynamic duo, Capt. Dondo trict championship. Their wide footprint Hubs Shimano Deore DX, quick-release, and Uncle Knobby) all log big-time miles vs . typical 700x20C tires provides added 135-mm rear axle spacing on skinny tires. Spokes 15-gauge Wheelsmith stainless comfort and traction with little extra steel, 32 front, 36 rear Rims Sun Metal CR-20 Tires Onza Porcupine, 26x2.1 in ., Schrader valve Drivetrain : Derailleurs Shimano Deore DX, thumbshifters Chain Shimano Hyperglide Crankset Shimano Deore DX, 175-mm crankarms, 24/36/487 chainrings Bottom bracket Shimano BB-UN70 sealed cartridge Freewheel Shimano Deore DX 7-speed, 13-307 cassette Components : Brakes Shimano Deore DX cantilevers Pedals Shimano Deore DX, nylon clips and straps Headset YST 707, Fisher Evolution 1Yinch size Seatpost SR Tall Cool One Saddle Avocet R-20 Gel Bar/stem Alloy bar; Dirt Research chrome- moly 15-cm stem, Onza Spy Bar bar-ends JOHN P. HAMEL MARCH 1992 119 weight. Plus, the RB-2 has enough fork also available. and stay clearance to accept 700x32C THUMBNAIL Bridgestone kept the price down by touring tires or 700x28C hybrid knob- sparing no expense on the frame but bies. So equipped, the bike's potential wisely equipping it with serviceable goes beyond racing. Japanese-built frame incredible at budget parts. These include Shimano All this tire room means plenty of thrs price 400EX derailleurs, Dia-Compe Blaze fender clearance, a rarity these days. But, Ideal all-purpose frame geometry sidepull brakes, and a Sakae bar, stem, sadly, the bike's only glaring omission is Tire clearances add versatility and seatpost. They work fine but can the lack of dropout eyelets. Fitting fend- easily be upgraded (unlike a cheap ers is still possible, of course, but requires frame). Even at its low price, however, the clutter of adapter clamps. the RB-2 diverges from the ordinary That's it for the criticism, however, No dropout eyelets with MKS track-cage pedals, Christophe because angle for angle and tube for tube Not enough Bridgestone dealers spring-steel toe clips, and a Sugino DAC this bike's dialed-in frame geometry is crankset with low Q-factor (distance identical to Bridgestone's flagship RB- between the outside edges of the I-about the sweetest-handling produc- semi-sloping fork crown, short-point crankarms), which Bridgestone says tion bike out there. As they should, the lugs, and niceties such as a chain hanger promotes more efficient pedaling. Our dimensions vary with frame size. Our 56- on the right seatstay and a pump peg 56-cm bike was spec'd with unusually cm sample combined a comfortably slack behind the head tube. Unlike some com- long 175-mm crankarms, which didn't 73-degree seat angle with a longish 56.5- petitors, it has no cost-cutting unicrown trouble me, especially on hills where cm top tube, providing an efficient over- fork, new-wave TIG welds, or lawyer- their extra leverage helped, but they may pedal position and room to stretch out. mandated, idiot-proof retaining dropouts be extreme for some riders. Smaller Up front, its 73.5-degree head angle is to confound quick front wheel changes. frames get 170-mm arms, the right size, paired with a 4.5-cm fork rake-a perfect A tasteful blue-and-ivory paint job com- but the crankset isn't available with the match that provides an agile, yet stable pletes the package; metallic purple is 172.5s preferred for larger sizes. ride with a textbook 2.12 inches of trail. The bike also looks right, with a BRIDGESTONE RB-2 Distributed by: Bridgestone Cycle (USA), Inc. 15021 Wicks Blvd . San Leandro, CA 94577 ,W- Country of Origin : Japan 1X1X140X1C1="111e Suggested Retail Price: $585 C= Sizes Available: 50, 53, 56 (tested), 59, and 62 cm (center-to-top) Weight : 23.2 lbs. Frame: Triple-butted Ishiwata chrome-moly steel R700 frame and fork, lugged construction Wheelbase 39 in .; 99 cm ZZZooommm! What Was That? Seat tube 22 in .; 56 cm Top tube 22.2 in .; 56 .5 cm BY SCOTT MARTIN Head angle 73.5 degrees Seat angle 73 degrees Chainstays 16.1 in .; 41 cm ABOUT THE ONLY ACCESSORY MISSING speedster that all they see of you are your Bottom bracket height 10.8 in ; 27 .5 cm from this bike is a bag to put over your other cheeks. Fork rake 1.77 in .; 4.5 cm head so your bike-snob buds won't know Like most time trial/triathlon bikes, Trail 2.12 in .; 5.37 cm you've turned tri-geek. Wheels: Then again, you Cannondale's R700 looks funny and Hubs Shimano Exage 500EX, quick release, might be going so fast on this light, aero goes quickly. This still-small category of 126-mm rear axle spacing Spokes 32, 14-gauge stainless steel, 3-cross Rims Araya 20A, silver Tires Ritchey Road Force, 700x28C Drivetrain : Derailleurs Shimano 400EX, indexed down tube levers Chain Shimano Hyperglide-50 Crankset Sugino CAC, 53/407 alloy chainrings, 175-mm crankarms Bottom bracket Tange sealed Freewheel Shimano 7-speed Hyperglide 50, 13237 cassette Components : Brakes Dia-Compe Blaze sidepulls Pedals MKS Sylvan track, Christophe steel clips, MKS nylon straps Headset Hatta Vesta steel Seatpost Sakae CLE alloy, 1-bolt, 220 mm Saddle Avocet racing Bar/stem Sakae round-bend alloy, 41 .5 cm ; Sakae alloy, 10 cm 120 BICYCLING MELLINDSTROM.